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http://www.interfax.com/com?item=Geor&pg=0&id=5624307&req= Interfax March 12, 2003 Georgian troops planting mines in Kodori gorge - Abkhaz deputy DM -[Abkhaz Deputy Defense Minister] Kupalba did not rule out that "provocation acts might be staged from the Kodori gorge as the snow starts melting." The Abkhaz armed forces are getting ready for them. Tbilisi. (Interfax-AVN) - Units of the Georgian border guard troops and Defense Ministry, including engineering and air defense forces, are located in the Kodori gorge at present, Abkhaz Deputy Defense Minister Garri Kupalba told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday. "Several areas are being mined," Kupalba said, citing Abkhaz reconnaissance data. Earlier in the day, Abkhazia rejected as "senseless" Georgia's proposals on sending Abkhaz officials for monitoring the Kodori gorge, which is the only area controlled by Georgia after the war of 1992- 1993. "Single visits to the Kodori gorge are just excursions," Kupalba noted. It is necessary to work out a mechanism of permanent scrupulous monitoring of Georgia's compliance with agreements on the gorge's demilitarization and later involve the Abkhaz party in it. Kupalba stressed that Abkhazia is not satisfied with the current format of patrolling that is being carried out by the CIS Collective Peacekeeping Forces in the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict zone and UN military observers once a week or twice a month depending on weather conditions. "The parties are informed on the patrolling route beforehand, which makes the monitoring senseless for no violation will ever be found," Kupalba said. "The fact that Georgia refuses to open permanent posts of Russian peacekeepers in the Kodori gorge speaks for itself," he stressed. Kupalba did not rule out that "provocation acts might be staged from the Kodori gorge as the snow starts melting." The Abkhaz armed forces are getting ready for them. At the same time, Georgian Minister without Portfolio Malkhaz Kakabadze told Interfax-AVN that Georgia confirms its readiness to accept Abkhaz officials in the Kodori gorge and persuade them that no danger comes from the area. ------------------------------------------------------- http://www.interfax.com/com?item=Geor&pg=0&id=5624434&req= Interfax March 12, 2003 Georgian delegation leaves for Brussels to attend political consultations in NATO-Georgia format -The officials will also negotiate on the political and economic situation in Georgia, conflicts settlement, Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, Russian military bases in Georgia, and military reform. Tbilisi. (Interfax-AVN) - A Georgian delegation led by Foreign Minister Irakly Menagarishvili left for Brussels on Wednesday to attend the third leg of political consultations in the NATO-Georgia format, Deputy Foreign Minister Kakha Sikharilidze told Interfax- Military News Agency. The delegation consists of officials of the Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry and National Security Council. The consultations will take place in the NATO headquarters from Thursday to Friday. According to Sikharilidze, Menagarishvili will meet with NATO Secretary General George Robertson on Thursday. Sikharilidze said that the format of the negotiations earlier prescribed that the Georgian delegation is headed by a deputy foreign minister, but later the level was raised. "It is related to the fact that Georgia considers rapprochement with NATO a landmark event, especially after the Georgian president announced the country's intention to join the Alliance at the Prague summit in November last year," Sikharilidze noted. While staying in Brussels, the Georgian delegation will also meet with members of the unofficial Vilnius Ten that united in 2002 to coordinate and provide mutual aid when becoming closer with NATO. Participants in the third leg of consultations will discuss prospects of relations between Georgia and NATO, parameters of the state program of Euro-Atlantic integration and a new partnership program suggested by the Alliance. The officials will also negotiate on the political and economic situation in Georgia, conflicts settlement, Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, Russian military bases in Georgia, and military reform. NATO will be represented at the consultations by Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Guenther Altenburg. ------------------------------------------------------- http://www.rbcnews.com/free/20030313100232.shtml RBC.ru March 13, 2003 RBC, 13.03.2003, Tbilisi 10:02:32.Georgia and NATO will start political consultations in Brussels today, a source in the Georgian Foreign Ministry reported to RBC. Georgia's delegation will be headed by Foreign Minister Irakli Menagharishvili. On March 14, he is expected to meet with NATO Secretary General George Robertson. The sides will discuss speeding up Georgia's integration with NATO, Georgia's state program on entering NATO and its implementation. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Web Hosting - establish your business online http://webhosting.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bdn7KI.YXJjaGl2 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] TOPICA - Start your own email discussion group. FREE! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/create/index2.html ==^================================================================
